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Emergency

Emergency scams prey on your fear of a loved one being hurt or in trouble. Scammers claim to be someone you know and tell you they need money immediately.

Scenarios they may use include:

Needing bail money because they've been arrested

Being in a car accident

Trouble returning from a foreign country

Vulnerable target: Seniors

Although scammers can claim to be any member of the family (aunt, uncle, husband, wife) or friend, grandparents may be particularly vulnerable.

The scammer pretends to be their grandchild and begs the grandparent not to tell their parents that they're in trouble. As a result, the grandparent doesn't find out until after they've sent the money that their grandchild was not the person who asked for help.